PhD candidate Chenliang Wu investigated the Triassic Yanchang and the Jurassic Fuxian formations in Ordos Basin. Chen observed that the top of the Yanchang formation is composed of amalgamated channel sandstone, and this sandy unit represent the last gasp of sediment pulse into the basin marking the end of Triassic. Channels in the Fuxian formation are much smaller in dimension compared to those in Yanchang formation, and the floodplain was much better developed during this time period.

Sedimentology encompasses the study of modern and ancient depositional systems, to evaluate the transport of sediment and production of stratigraphy. This information has application for evaluating rivers, deltas, coastal, and marine environments.